Merry Christmas

The children slept in until 8 o'clock, Mackenzie actually had to be woken up (since she was up until 11 the night before waiting for Santa). They were giddy as they came down the stairs.

Mackenzie checked to make sure that Santa had enjoyed his cookies and milk.

We opened stockings first.  Logan became obsessed with his new toothbrush holder, for awhile I didn't think we would get any farther than stockings.

We opened the "rectangle presents from Grandma."

"It's something Rapunzel..."

"It's a baby Rapunzel!"

Logan got to the box and shouted, "It's milk!" 

Finally got to our Santa presents.

and we made quite a good mess.  It was so much fun watching them open the presents.  They go slow, it's still about the toys and not about opening as fast as possible.  Mackenzie was very serious about knowing who each present was from.  Even today, while playing, she'll stop and tell me who go her that toy.  

After all that fun we went to church, then took a picture.  I can't decide which of the two I like better:

It's so much fun to take pictures when we are dressed up....

Mackenzie was beginning to feel tortured because she just wanted to play.

Finished the day with a nice dinner.  The kids played quietly all day long (so did Robert), which was my Christmas present.

Gingerbread Houses

Building gingerbread houses has become one of my favorite traditions that we have started as a family.

Mackenzie worked very diligently.  She added a lot of landscape to her house, bushes, a pebble walkway, a sled, and a swing.

Logan added a lot of candy to his mouth.  Just like last year he was more interested in eating than building.  I may have taken over at some point,  it was really fun.

Our finished projects...

I think it's fitting that he is mid-chew. 

Sneaky Elf

Woke up to Arthur's note.

Mackenzie was none to happy about it.  Immediately after the picture she said, "Where is a wet washcloth to wipe this off my nose."

Mackenzie's Christmas Dance Recital

Mackenzie had her first dance recital Saturday night.  Here she is before the show in the dressing room.  She got to wear mascara, blush, lipstick, and glitter hair spray!  (She really liked getting dressed up.)

 Again I am sorry I am not a very good videographer.  Mackenzie is the second from the left, (she is the one who just sort of stands there the whole time) :)

School Performances

Mackenzie and Logan's school had a Christmas performance Friday night.  We got their a few minutes late and Logan's class was up and about half way through the song.  I whipped off his jacket and threw him up there.  Therefore, he looks confused for the first part of the song.  Once he saw me he started dancing though.

Mackenzie's group was next.  They did a dance and a song.  They danced with a partner to Let it Snow.  Mackenzie and her partner stayed about three moves behind everyone else but they were darling.  The video gets shaky in the middle because Logan was crying and wanted to be held.  So I am trying to pick up Logan while still recording.

Next, they sang Feliz Navidad!

Santa arrived after all of the singing.  Logan and Mackenzie were so excited!  He was a Scottish Santa, complete with a kilt, purse, and knee socks.

It was such a cute program, short and sweet.  And we got cookies and milk afterwards. 

The Adventures of Arthur the Elf

Our Visitor

Meet Arthur the Elf. He joined us the day after Thanksgiving and will be staying until Christmas. He watches us all day, after we fall asleep he flies to the North Pole to report to Santa. Every morning we find him in a new spot.

The first morning we found him Mackenzie literally screamed from the excitement. This is Day 3. Last night he went into our basement and found our Christmas books. He had a good time reading them. Mackenzie and Logan are anxious for him to finish so they can read them too.

Halloween

The kids both picked out their own pumpkins this year.
Logan was not into getting yucky. He put one hand in then wanted to wash it. Robert and I did most of his.
Mackenzie was not squeamish at all. She dug right in.
Logan finally got brave, after we gave him a scooper.


We saved the pumpkin seeds, the kids really seem to enjoy them.
We let Mackenzie draw the eyes and nose, I drew the mouth. Logan told Robert what shapes he wanted.
Mackenzie dressed as Rapunzel this year and Logan as Spiderman. Mackenzie just had to have the hair. I found a wig, braided it, and added some flowers.



They had so much fun. After every house they would show use the candy that they got. Logan keep asking if this was Halloween night. Mackenzie was much faster and braver than last year.

Mackenzie is already planning what to wear next year :)

Slip and Slide

Grandma brought a slip and slide for us to play with, they LOVED it!

(yes, Mackenzie is posing at the end of the slide)